LIVERPOOL fans are being quoted more than #1,000 for flights to Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines has sold out for Champions League final dates and British Airways said seats had almost gone.

Travel agents across the city are being swamped with inquiries, but are struggling to find anything under #1,000.

Fans are being warned that nearly all the city's 100,000 hotel rooms have been bought up by package firms and priced at up to #150 a night.

Supporters have been advised to turn to special flights organised by the club, but firm plans for charters have not yet been arranged.

Hayley Kearon, from Cooperative Travel in Allerton, said: "We have had lots of people ringing up, but the tickets are coming up as #1,096."

British Airways said it hoped more capacity could be provided by putting on bigger planes to Istanbul and running special flights for the event.

Supporters can still pick up return flights from Heathrow on May 25 for #275, but planes returning from the Turkish city are sold out for several days afterwards.

Val Jones from Direct Holidays said excited Liverpool fans have even booked out holidays to Dalaman - a nine-hour bus ride away - in the hope of seeing their heroes play.

She said: "We have been inundated with calls from people trying to get to the game and we have only two seats left now.

"We have been selling all morning. Now if people want to go they will have to try websites."

British Airways advised fans to look for flights with other national air carriers which fly from different cities.

If people do finally get to Istanbul another challenge could wait for them.

Hotels are booking up fast and there is no central booking service, said the Turkish Tourist Board.

Liverpool have been given 20,000 tickets for the match in the 80,000 seat stadium, meaning heartbreak for some of the club's 23,000 season ticket holders. The club will operate a priority ticketing system to reward loyal fans.

The Ataturk stadium is several miles from Istanbul and the only access is by road, with no trams or trains.

European air routes are sold out >>>>

European air routes are sold out>

EUROPEAN airlines have been swamped by calls from football fans desperate to go to the game.

Yesterday, the ECHO found flights to Istanbul with German and Dutch no frills carriers for as little as #180.

Planes setting off from Berlin and Eindhoven would have been easily reached with cheap easyJet flights from Liverpool.

But today all seats had disappeared, and both carriers, German Wings and Dutch firm Corendon, had nothing to offer for the match.

Neither travel company Expedia nor the Turkish tourist board could find flights connecting Liverpool or Manchester to Istanbul in time for the game.

But for those with a bit of time to spare there is always a 2,000-mile drive to the Turkish capital.

There are two routes recommended by motoring associations. The northern route takes in the scenery of Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. The southern route travels through Germany, Austria, Italy and ends with a ferry trip to Turkey.

By rail, the Turkish Tourist Board estimates the journey would take three days.

Hotel rooms are selling for #150 a night. But the Istanbul Yucelt youth hostel has beds for under #10.